At this point, I have more tools than I have toolholders. This can be frustrating as I like to have “standard” tools ready to go.
Just as an example:
- Four different shapes of right hand turning tools
- Chamfering tool
- Parting tool
- Shearing tool
- Facing tool (left hand)
- Grooving tool
- Right hand threading tool
- 3/8″ Boring bar
- 1/2″ Boring Bar
- 3/4″ Boring Bar
- 5/8″ Grooving bar
- Right Hand threading bar
- Left Hand threading bar
These are tools that live in toolholders ready to be used. I would have more in toolholders if I had more toolholders.
Aloris BXA#1 can be had for the low, low price of $83. The #2, which has a grove for boring bars, is only $82+shipping.
Then there is the shop made version:
I have two more that are ready to finish to this stage. Once those two are completed, all three are going into the mill for some aggressive chamfering.
When that is completed, they three of them will be hot blued, oiled, hardware installed, and then they will be ready to go into production.
I have the raw materials for another 6 toolholders. I have some smaller tools, 1/4″ I think. I plan to make a couple of 1/4″ toolholders. Three more will be 5/8 and one will be 3/4.
The nice thing, is that having done this once, the next time becomes much easier.
Aloris-style toolholders sure are nice, but the expense does add up. I have what started out as a lantern style toolholder. I modified it with a large nut that goes around the holder, so it keeps the tool horizontal and allows easy height adjustment. (The idea came from a Home Shop Machinist article.) Works great. Not quick-change in the sense that I have to adjust the tool height in many cases, but it certainly offers good security and rigidity.